Exploring the Feasibility and Benefits of Implementing Pelvic Floor Muscle Training During Inpatient Rehabilitation for People With Spinal Cord Injury

NCT07519928 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: H26-00445
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 50
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical study is to determine the feasibility and explore the potential benefits of pelvic floor muscle training during inpatient SCI rehabilitation on urinary, bowel, and sexual function and quality of life in people with SCI. The main questions it aims to answer are:

1. 1.What is the feasibility of recruiting inpatients from SCI rehabilitation to a pelvic floor muscle training program?
2. 2.What is the feasibility and acceptance of the implementation of a pelvic floor muscle training program in SCI inpatient rehabilitation?
3. 3.What are the potential effects of a pelvic floor muscle training program implemented in SCI inpatient rehabilitation on bladder, bowel, and sexual function and quality of life?

Conditions

Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI)

Keywords

Spinal Cord Injury; Physiotherapy; Physical Therapy; Pelvic Floor Muscles

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Feasibility - Recruitment Rate

  Recruitment Rate will be evaluated by the number of participants approached, screened for eligibility, and invited to enroll in the study, relative to the number of overall inpatients admitted to the GF Strong Rehabilitation Center SCI unit. We will document the number of participants who enrolled, declined enrollment, or did not respond to our invitation to enroll, as well as the reasons for not enrolling when available.

  Through study completion, an average of 8 months

• Feasibility - Compliance

  Compliance will be tracked by the number of participants who underwent the intervention, as well as their adherence to the prescribed exercise program (attendance to supervised sessions and diaries), with reasons for missed sessions or drop-outs noted.

  Through study completion, an average of 8 months

• Feasibility - Acceptability (Perceived Acceptability Questionnaire)

  Acceptability of the intervention will be assessed using a study-specific questionnaire, the Perceived Acceptability Questionnaire, developed for this study. The questionnaire aims to capture participants' enjoyment of the PFMT program and their perceptions of its benefits for urinary, bowel, and sexual health. Each item is rated on a 7-point Likert scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree), with higher scores reflecting greater perceived acceptability and benefit.

  Through study completion, an average of 8 months

Secondary Outcomes (10)

• Incontinence Quality of Life Questionnaire (I-QoL)

  Through study completion, an average of 8 months

• Neurogenic Bladder Symptoms Score (NBSS)

  Through study completion, an average of 8 months

• Timed Bowel Routine

  Through study completion, an average of 8 months

• Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction Score (NBDS)

  Through study completion, an average of 8 months

• International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) Questionnaire

  Through study completion, an average of 8 months

Study Arms (1)

Pelvic Floor Muscle Physical Therapy

EXPERIMENTAL

Pelvic floor muscle physical therapy 5/week for 6 weeks.

Behavioral: Pelvic Floor Muscle Physiotherapy

Interventions

Pelvic Floor Muscle Physiotherapy BEHAVIORAL

Pelvic floor muscle physiotherapy 5x/week for 6-weeks.

Pelvic Floor Muscle Physical Therapy

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 19 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Are at least 19 years of age.
• Have a traumatic or non-traumatic SCI
• Are able to perform a voluntary anal contraction
• Present with bladder or urinary tract dysfunction from SCI
• Are a current inpatient at GF Strong Rehabilitation Center and are expected to remain as an inpatient for at least 6 weeks after the time of consent.
• Are able to speak and understand English.

You may not qualify if:

• Present with symptoms of lower motor neuron injury to the sacral segments (e.g. negative anal and bulbocavernosus reflexes)
• Present with any other condition besides SCI that impacts the pelvic floor muscles or other pelvic structures
• Are planning to receive intra-detrusor Botox injections in the next 3 months
• Have a brain injury or other condition that interferes with their ability to follow instructions
• Are using a ventilator
• Have severe and unmanaged spasticity (involuntary muscle tightness or spasms) or contractures (prolonged muscle/joint stiffness)
• Are unable to tolerate transfers to or lie on a physical therapy table
• Experience severe pain that interferes with their ability to participate in pelvic floor muscle training

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of British Columbia: lead
• Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR): collaborator

Study Sites (1)

GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre

Vancouver, British Columbia, V5Z 2G9, Canada

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Spinal Cord Injuries

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Spinal Cord Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Trauma, Nervous System; Wounds and Injuries

Central Study Contacts

Jiho Song

CONTACT

604-675-8815; lamlab@icord.org

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 2, 2026
• First Posted: April 9, 2026
• Study Start: April 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): September 30, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): March 31, 2028
• Last Updated: April 15, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

CA (1)